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Mo. politicians react to ruling on federal health care law

Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon, accused by the Missouri GOP of ducking the issue of healthcare.
(Flickr Creative Commons User aflcio)
Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon, accused by the Missouri GOP of ducking the issue of healthcare.

Republicans in Missouri are praising Monday's ruling by a federal judge in Virginia that declared portions of the new federal health care law unconstitutional.
The Missouri Republican Party released a statement criticizing Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill for supporting the bill.
"Claire McCaskill thumbed her nose at the clear will of Missourians and the American people as one of the most ardent supporters of Barack Obama's health care plan," the statement read in part.
The State GOP also accused Governor Jay Nixon of ducking the issue altogether. Nixon did respond, though, to a question about today's ruling during a press conference in Columbia.
"First of all, I have not had a chance to see what the ruling was on, so I wouldn't want to comment in any sort of substantive way because I just haven't seen it," Nixon said. "We will continue to work cooperatively as we move forward with the responsibilities we have under that act until we're told not to."
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder(R), who filed his own lawsuit earlier this year, called the ruling a victory for the American people, and again called on Chris Koster, the state's Democratic Attorney General to join in the suit. Koster has so far said "no" to Kinder's legal efforts.

Marshal was a political reporter for St. Louis Public Radio until 2018.